Take a look at a map of California, and you’ll discover that some of the top destinations in the country are within a day’s drive of one another: San Francisco, Yosemite, and Los Angeles. Push past the state’s borders and add Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, and you’ll have the road trip of a lifetime.

Puerto Rico has a slew of tour operators offering a variety of adventures that span the spectrum from guided city walks to deep-sea dives to mountain-climbing hikes. All tour companies require reservations.

Unknown to many tourists, there are happily many other Carioca summits that offer alternatively impressive views far from the crowds that flock to Sugarloaf and Corcovado. Michael Sommers points you towards some off the beaten path alternatives.

Michael and his boyfriend take a weekend road trip from Diamantina to Belo Horizonte, a popular destination for Diamantinenses seeking a fix of Big City entertainment. While not a classic tourist destination, over the last couple of years, the city has made major investments in its leisure and cultural offerings.